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Honeywell and Preem conduct commercial co-processing trial

US-headed UOP LLC – a Honeywell International Inc (Honeywell) company and a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries – has announced the completion of a commercial refinery trial with Sweden's largest oil refiner Preem AB for co-processing of biomass-based pyrolysis oil in a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit at Preem's Lysekil refinery.

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UOP LLC, a Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) company, has announced the completion of a commercial refinery trial with Sweden’s largest oil refiner Preem AB for co-processing of biomass-based pyrolysis oil in a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit at Preem’s Lysekil refinery (photo courtesy Preem).

Utilizing UOP’s proprietary bioliquid feed system with “Optimix GF Feed Distributor”, pyrolysis oil was successfully co-processed in the FCC at Preem’s Lysekil refinery to produce partially renewable transportation fuel.

This test marks the 6th commercial co-processing trial conducted by UOP worldwide of this technology in an FCC and the first pyrolysis oil co-processing trial in Scandinavia using UOP’s Optimix GF Feed Distributor technology.

Expand renewable fuel capacity

Preem is the largest integrated fuel company in Sweden and operates two refineries – located in Lysekil and Gothenburg respectively – with a total refining capacity of more than 18 million m3 per annum. Preem refines, distributes, and retails gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and renewable fuels to companies and consumers in Sweden and worldwide.

By 2030, Preem aims to produce approximately 5 million m3 of renewable fuels and thereafter aims to become the world’s first climate-neutral biofuels- and refining company.

Preem’s production of renewable petrol is an important piece of the puzzle that Sweden must solve to achieve its climate goals. Residual products from our Swedish forests have a unique potential and this is an exciting step in our work to develop the fuel of the future, said Peter Abrahamsson, Head of Sustainable Development at Preem.

Widening the feedstock base

To meet Sweden’s long-term goals of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, fuel suppliers must reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of transportation fuels.

Co-processing of biomass-based pyrolysis oil is one method to reduce the carbon intensity of transport fuels at the refinery compared to blending of biofuels downstream.

Supplied by Pyrocell, Preem’s joint venture with Setra Group, Preem will co-process biomass-derived pyrolysis oil at its Lysekil refinery (photo courtesy Pyrocell).

To this end, Preem, together with compatriot wood products major Setra Group formed a joint venture Pyrocell AB that will supply approximately 25 000 tonnes-per-annum of pyrolysis oil to Preem from a biomass pyrolysis plant that is nearing completion.

Being built adjacent to Setra’s Kastet sawmill in Gävle, the plant will use sawdust from the mill’s production.

Pyrolysis oil produced from sustainable solid biomass materials such as sawdust or agricultural residuals is a low carbon feedstock that can be suitable for refinery upgrading.

Furthermore, in the European Union (EU) context, biomass-based pyrolysis oil can qualify as an Annex IX Part A feedstock under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), which is directly supported by Sweden’s Integrated Energy and Climate Plan.

Part of renewable fuel technology portfolio

Pyrolysis oil co-processed in an FCC is an economically attractive method of meeting RED biofuel mandates for advanced biofuels. FCC co-processing technology is part of a portfolio of renewable fuel solutions offered by the Sustainable Technology Solutions group at Honeywell UOP.

Using the UOP Optimix GF Feed Distributor system, many types of bioliquids can be successfully co-processed in an FCC unit. Refinery co-processing such as at Preem’s Lysekil refinery is one method for meeting biofuel mandates and produce low carbon fuels (and is no doubt something the representatives

“UOP is excited to support Preem for the production of low-carbon trans-
portation fuels. FCC co-processing of biomass-based pyrolysis oil is an
integrated production solution using existing refinery infrastructure to
convert sustainable feeds into advanced biofuels,” said Ben Owens, VP,
and General Manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions
(photo courtesy Honeywell).

Using the UOP Optimix GF Feed Distributor system, many types of bioliquids can be successfully co-processed in an FCC unit. Refinery co-processing such as at Preem’s Lysekil refinery is one method for meeting biofuel mandates and produce low carbon fuels.

No doubt that this is something that representatives, from all three companies, look forward to discussing with peers at the upcoming Svebio Advanced Biofuels Conference in Stockholm.

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